Catalog S

SAGINA subulata (Irish Moss). Looks like a very fine short moss but is a perennial -- even has tiny white flowers. Forms a dense mat and works well between stepping stones. Rated for sun or shade, but we believe it needs a lot of moisture to tolerate full sun.

SALVIA (Sage). Both ornamental and culinary varieties are included. Most sages tend to woodiness after a few years. Divide them or cut them back sharply in the Spring so that fresh shoots develop. Sun and good garden soil are prescribed.

officinalis (Culinary sage). To 36". Berggarten is gray-green; Aurea (18) is yellow  and green. Leaves of Purple, and of Tricolor (white, green and pink), are ornamental and tasty.

Forskaohlei is a new ornamental species to us in 2002. It forms a 3 x 3 nearly woody clump with gray-green leaves and stately violet-blue spires, blooming June to October in the Zone 4 Nebraska nursery from which we obtained it.

The 18-24 plants of lyrata (Lyre Leaf Sage) have showy clusters of blue to violet flowers. This species is a medicinal plant for the Cherokee peoples. Purple Knockout is a recently introduced cultivar with stunning purple foliage. Nemerosa cultivars also sport long-lasting spikes of (mostly) purple flowers. Foliage is somewhat coarse. Blue Hill is the first true blue in this species. Snowhill (Schneehugel) is the white form. Highly recommended. East  Friesland is 24",  with blue-purple flowers, maroon bracts, in June and July.   It reblooms with sufficient moisture. Plumosa is unique in color and shape. Thick, plume-like blossoms are deep dusty rose purple. Grows to 15-18. Rose Queen is another long bloomer.

nipponica Fuji Snow is distinctive for its white-edged foliage and shade tolerance. It has been reliable for us. Good drainage is recommended.

sylvestris (was nemerosa) Mainacht (May Night) (18"). was the 1997 Perennial Plant of  the Year. Dark blue-violet flowers bloom early and long.  Outstanding variety.

verticillata Purple Rain. 14-20". Smoky purple flowers on long stems, good rebloom. Foliage rough; color heavenly.

Finally, we have several half-hardy or annual salvias which seem to come true from seed.

SANGUINARIA (Bloodroot). 6-12". Early Spring woods wildflower. White flowers come up before leaves. Leaves are large and grayish, make a pleasant ground cover. We have limited quantities of both singles and doubles.

SANGUISORBA (Burnet). A family of herbs bearing bottlebrush flowers above basal foliage in late summer. Choices are obtusa, to 4 ft., rose-purple flowers; tenuifolia Atropurpurea, 5-6 ft., blood red; canadensis, 4-5 ft, white.

SAPONARIA (Soapwort). The garden plants in this family deserve wider use. Ocymoides (8") is a vigorous semi-evergreen creeper covered in 1/2" bright pink flowers in late May and sporadically all summer. Hybrid Max Frei (13) has larger flowers. Snow Tips is white-flowered, otherwise like the species. Officinalis (Bouncing Bet, 20") is strongly upright if divided frequently. Our double-flowered pink blooms all summer. All of these want sun and light soil. Z3-8.

SCABIOSA (Pincushion Flower). Two recently popularized columbaria hybrids make this formerly boring family worth another look. Butterfly Blue was in fact the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2000. It carries 2" light blue blooms all summer, on a compact plant. Pink Mist (PP08957) is a soft pink, suitable>

SCUTELLARIA (Skull Cap, Helmet Flower). Domesticated

low-growing wildflower for sun.

   alpina. 6-12" spreader, roots from stems. Violet. Z4.

   orientalis. 8-12". Yellow, with red touches, purple bracts.

The Perennial Plant Association promotes the appreciation and effective use of perennials. While most of its members are growers or marketers, there are a number of educators, researchers, and garden writers, and at least a few collectors. A PPA committee chooses the Plant of the Year, from a short list voted by members, and promotes it to the general public. PPA is at least partly responsible for the fact that perennials are getting more respect from nurserymen and landscapers nowadays. That means more and better plants available to consumers.

SEDUM (Stonecrop). Large family of succulents, usually valued more for foliage than flowers. Considered full sun plants, many will perform well in part shade; well-drained soil is the primary requirement. We have varieties which we cannot name but value for colors and textures. The named

varieties and species below have performed exceptionally well for us. SHORT TYPES listed first.

acre (Golden Moss). 2". Dense mat of bright green has    yellow flowers in June.

John Creech. 2" groundcover. Pink blooms in June.

kamtschaticum. 5". Serrated dark green leaves, gold   flowers in June. A neat clumping edger.

pachyclados. Tiny gray-blue foliage, silver-pink flrs Summer.

rupestre. Blue-spruce like foliage, yellow flowers in summer.

sieboldii. 6". Striking form. Round gray leaves in clusters of

   three; on radiating stems; pink flowers in September.

s. Mediovariegatum.Choice prostrate cream-variegated form.

spurium coccineum (Dragon's Blood). 4". Purple-bronze

   evergreen foliage, rosy red flowers mid-Summer.

s. Fulda Glow. Improved Dragons Blood

tetractinum. Round, flat, green foliage, reddish bronze in Fall

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Vera Jameson. 9-12". Purple-gray foliage, pink flowers. We find this lays itself out in a circle, so treat it as a low one.

TALL TYPES. These are upright substantial plants from 18-30" tall. All form 3 to 6" flat flower heads that blossom in August. The blooms are long lasting and can be used in dried arrangements or left standing for winter interest.

alboroseum mediovariegatum. (18). Cream and gold

leaves, pale pink flowers

Autumn Joy begins as a subdued rose and matures to a brick

   or rust red. It harmonizes with the late summer colors of    other perennials. Listed at 24", may go to 30".

Carmen, Meteor. Both have bright rose-red flowers. Plants    are somewhat smaller than Autumn Joy.

Frosty Morn. 12". Upright, but short. Wide white bands on    gray-green foliage. Variable pink to white flowers late    summer.

Matrona has a dusky rose tint to the leaves, large pink

flower heads; makes a very attractive, refined clump.

Mohrchen. 24-30". Upright sedum to 18".. Foliage is    completely burgundy, flower heads rosy pink in late    summer. Best in part shade. Limited.

Ruby Glow (syn. Rosy Glow). Purple gray foliage, rose red    flowers late summer. This sieboldi x spectabile hybrid has    10-12 long stems, but may droop.

Purple Emperor. Weve been told this is now the best purple

leafed sedum available. It is NEW to us in 2003.

SEMPERVIVUM (Hens & Chicks). There are hundreds of these; we offer about 10 types, varying from year to year. Arachnoideum (Cobweb) and Booth's Red are popular.

SHORTIA galacifolia (Oconee Bells). The creme de la creme of American woodland plants. Makes dense evergreen carpets, magnificent white flowers. Slow to establish; worth the wait. Nursery propagated. Display only.

SIDALCEA (Miniature Hollyhock). To 3 ft. Z4 Elsie Heugh is pale pink; Mr. Lindbergh rosy red. Blooms July-August.

SILENE (Catchfly) Zones 4 8. Acaulis Pink Pearl. Mat-forming, nice tidy habit with deep green foliage and covered with soft pink blooms June-July. New in 2002. Maritima (Robin White Breast) grows to 10. Grayish foliage and simple white flowers of the campion type make a nice part-shade groundcover. Swan Lake, which has large, double flowers, is good to tumble over a wall. Otherwise, we prefer the habit of the species. Schafta Splendens has 8-10 stalks of rose flowers in late spring. Uniflora (2-3 high) has tiny oval leaves, carnation-like white flowers.

SILPHIUM (Cup Plant, Compass Plant). A group of prairie natives, mostly large and free-flowering in shades of yellow, which have proved annoyingly hard to get; limited stock from our own propagation.

SISYRINCHIUM (Blue-Eyed Grass) is not a grass at all, but an iris cousin. Grass-like leaves and stems, blue flowers. Z3.

Bermudianum is a lot larger than the native, but less hardy.

SMILACINA racemosa (False Solomon's Seal). Woods wildflower native here. Stems to 30, arching, alternate leafed. Panicles of small, fuzzy, cream flowers at stem ends in Spring. Pleasing summer groundcover.

SOLDANELLA. Our first offering in this family is alpina. Its fringed lavender flowers dance over the dark green ginger-like leavesa great addition to the shade garden.

SPIGELIA marilandica. Thanks to the efforts of the distinguished Pennsylvania plantsman, Dale Hendricks, we are finally able to obtain enough of this beautiful>

SPIRANTHES (Ladies Tresses) cernua var. odorata (12) is a native orchid. Spires of sweetly scented porcelain white flowers rise above 3-4 foliage. Damp, organic soils are preferred. When you have enough, these make good cuts.

STACHYS. Family loves sun and dry soil; hardy to Zone 3.

Byzantina (was lanata) (Lamb's Ear). Silver felted leaves make a good groundcover or edger for sunny dry locations. We carry a non-flowering variety, Silver Carpet. Helene von Stein supposedly resists melting out in hot sun. Primrose Heron bears creamy yellow, woolly leaves that slightly curl upwards in a tight clump. Stachys is more than Lambs Ear. Monnieri Hummelo is a lime-loving clump-forming plant with dense spikes of rosy purple flowers on 20 stems. Minor is for the rock garden: Short spikes of hot magenta flowers arise from dense, slow spreading mats of dark green leaves.

STANLEYA pinnata (Princes Plume) is a dry soil native, from the Dakota plains. Spectacular yellow plumes grace this 2 4 ft plant in mid-Summer. Zone 4.

STOKESIA (Stokes' Aster). 15-20 except as noted. One of the most satisfying summer bloomers. We carry several blue varieties of laevis, which seem about the same to us--Klaus Jelitto, Blue Danube, Wyoming, etc. ). Peachies Pick is dwarf, Omega Skyrocket develops 36" stalks. The white cultivar Silver Moon is less vigorous than blues. Mary Gregorys flowers are a distinctive soft, yellow. Rosy lavender Purple Parasols is a new color, as are Color Wheel and Honeysong Purple (PPAF).

STYLOPHORUM diphyllum (Woods Poppy), to 18. Native to open deciduous woods, it bears 2 bright yellow flowers in Spring; dissected and rounded green leaves are gray beneath, persist all summer in moist soil.Colonizes readily by seed and coexists well with ferns, other Northeast natives. To Zone 4.

SYMPHYANDRA. Of the great bellflower tribe, zanzegur hails from the rocky heights of Armenia. Its 2 violet flowers hang singly or in short racemes during Summer. They are large for the 12 plant. Listed as Zone 6, but OK here in 5.

SYMPHYTUM grandiflorum (Comfrey). Low-growing Hidcote Variegated flourishes in dry shade. Its green leaves are splashed and edged in yellow fading to cream, blossoms blue. Thanks to Ellen Hornig for this one. Goldsmith is similar, with white flowers. (The herb is a large and rough plant.) Zones 4 8.